Join us on Saturday, November 1 at the Point Arena Lighthouse for our annual Day of the Dead celebration. This is a FREE event that is open to all.
The evening will run from 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM and will include:
Student art show featuring work from PCCS K-12, Arena Elementary, Point Arena High School, Manchester Elementary, Horicon Elementary, and Arena Pre-School.
My Mexican Restaurant food truck
Folklóríco dancers
Community altar (everyone is invited to bring something for the altar)
Join us for our 4th annual Noodle Night & Sauce Contest! This is a fun evening to enjoy a meal together and raise funds for our TK-12 Field Studies Program.
Last weekend Ms. Lili and Ms. Meg were in Sacramento for a statewide Ag in the Classroom conference. They met with educators, farmers, researchers, and other farm to school enthusiasts from across the state. This was a chance for them to dig deeper into curriculum ideas for our Farm to School program. One of their recent projects with the TK-1 class was a huckleberry unit that included a day of harvesting followed by jam making and topped off with a tasting of Pelican sourdough and huckleberry jam (yum!).
K–12 students kicked off the school year with their second annual All-School Campout on Thursday, September 25 through Friday, September 26, 2025. The field study brought students, staff, and families together for two days of outdoor learning, shared meals, and community building.
The campout began Thursday morning as students departed from the school and traveled to Big River. There, they explored the beach, enjoyed a picnic lunch, and participated in hands-on classroom breakout activities. Middle and high school students were joined by an outdoor educator from the Mendocino County Office of Education, who led a beach walk and facilitated a discussion about the kelp forest. To deepen their understanding, students created a human model of the ecosystem, each representing a different element to explore the conditions needed for a healthy kelp forest and the threats it faces. In the afternoon, students transitioned to the Albion Field Station, operated by Pacific Union College. The rest of the day included small group learning sessions, lagoon kayaking for 2nd–5th graders, time to relax, dinner, and a campfire gathering.
Friday’s schedule opened with breakfast in the dining hall before students set out for more adventures. Middle and high school students kayaked along the Albion River, while younger students explored trails around the Field Station. Families also had the chance to join in the kayaking.
The PCCS All-School Campout was more than just an overnight trip—it was an opportunity for students of all ages to connect, learn in the outdoors, and experience the rich natural resources of the Mendocino Coast.
Pacific Community Charter School was proud to carry forward this growing tradition, which fosters community, curiosity, and a connection to the natural world.
PCCS represented at the annual Fish Fest last weekend. It was a beautiful day full of sunshine, delicious food, music, and great folks. We hosted activities that included seed saving, watercoloring, beading, and a collaborative painting. Check out the community “Under the Sea” painting that surfaced from everyone’s efforts!
PCCS represented at the Point Arena Independence Parade! Our “Under the Sea” float was created during one of our ELO sessions and showcased our connection with the ocean. So fun!!
Students from Pacific Community Charter School have been out and about this summer, taking their learning beyond the classroom walls as part of the school’s Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) Program. With daily adventures stretching from the tidepools of Salt Point to the banks of the Big River, students are experiencing the wonders of the local landscape in hands-on, meaningful ways.
Throughout July, ELO participants explored kelp forests, riparian ecosystems, and local farms. They hiked along coastal bluffs, observed marine life at Glass Beach and the Noyo Center, kayaked on the Gualala River, and visited farms like Starcross Monastery, Sea Ranch Farm, Stornetta Ranch, and Windy Hollow. The immersive sessions combined science, creativity, and fun through a slew of activities including journaling, tide-pooling, cob oven building, olive tasting, ice cream making and feeding pigs, chickens, and calves.
Under the direction of PCCS Operations Manager, Lacey Glaze, students also helped create the school’s Under the Sea float for the Independence Day Parade. According to Glaze, the float “showcased the creativity and care of our students as they explored what it means to be good neighbors and stewards of the sea. From playful sea creatures to swaying kelp, every piece was designed with purpose and love for the ocean.”
These weekly explorations are designed to strengthen students’ connection to the natural world and their local community. “Every session gives our students the chance to be scientists, artists, and explorers,” said Jennifer Ketring, PCCS Executive Director.
The summer isn’t over yet—two more weeks of programming remain, with sessions focused on coastal prairies and forest ecosystems.
Pacific Community Charter School is a free, public school serving students in grades TK–12. The summer ELO program is available to enrolled TK-6th grade students. Families interested in enrolling for the upcoming school year can visit www.pacificcharterschool.org or call 707-882-4131 for more information.
Our high school students went up to North Lake Tahoe for their spring field study. Despite needing to cut the trip short because of illness, students still had an opportunity to go kayaking on the lake, plan meals together, visit UC Davis, and have a bit of fun before making the difficult decision to go home early for the sake of everyone’s health. Before leaving on the field study, students had selected a part of the itinerary that they would write about in the style of a press release. Several students shared their reflections. Please take a moment to read them here.
Last week, our TK-3 students went to the California Academy of Sciences for their spring field study. There were so many amazing things to see and learn about! Lots of families were able to join for the two nights at the KOA in Petaluma where everyone shared meals, played, made s’mores, and enjoyed time together. Thank you to everyone who helped make this incredible experience happen! We look forward to more adventures together.
pacificcharterschool.org 